The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.- Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

Yemen

The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense,
the third good humor, and the fourth wit.- Sir William Temple, 1628-1699

Tanzania

The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another’s observation, not overturning it.- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, 1803 – 1873

Morocco

The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. - Jean de la Bruyere, 1803 – 1873

Italy

The character of a man is known from his conversations.- Menander, 342 – 292 BCE

Poet Khalil Khoury, Baghdad, Iraq

Japan

India

Conversation. What is it? A Mystery!
It’s the art of never seeming bored, of touching everything with interest,
of pleasing with trifles, of being fascinating with nothing at all. - Guy de Maupassant, 1850 – 1893

Lourdes, France

China

The most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds is, in my opinion, conversation.- Michel de Montaigne, The Essays: A Selection, 1533 – 1592

Turkey

Russia

France

Afghanistan

A single conversation with a wise person is worth a month’s study of books.- Chinese Proverb

Italy

India

Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.- Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea

Tanzania

In my opinion, the most fruitful and natural play of the mind is in conversation.
I find it sweeter than any other action in life; and if I were forced to choose,
I think I would rather lose my sight than my hearing and voice.
– Michel de Montaigne

Tibet

The very act of preparing and serving tea encourages conversation. The little spaces in time created by teatime rituals call out to be filled with conversation. Even the tea itself–warm and comforting-inspires a feeling of relaxation and trust that fosters shared confidences.Emilie Barnes, If Teacups Could Talk

Italy

The highest good is prayer and conversation with God.- St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, 347–407